How Much Paint to Paint the Outside of a House (Size Chart)
A typical 30 × 40 ft one-story house needs about 7.7 gallons of exterior paint for two coats, which means 8 gallons in practice (one five-gallon pail and a few more). A two-story house of the same footprint needs 14.1 gallons. Enter your own size in the exterior paint calculator, or find the closest house below.
Part of the project planner: Planning to paint a room or a house.
Gallons by house size
Two coats at 350 ft² per gallon, 9 ft walls per story, two gable ends 6 ft high, and the windows and doors shown:
| House | Windows and doors | Surface to paint | Paint for two coats | Buy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 24 × 30 ft, 1 story | 120 ft² | 1,032 ft² | 5.9 gal | 6 gal |
| 30 × 40 ft, 1 story | 150 ft² | 1,350 ft² | 7.7 gal | 8 gal |
| 40 × 50 ft, 1 story | 200 ft² | 1,720 ft² | 9.8 gal | 10 gal |
| 24 × 36 ft, 2 stories | 250 ft² | 2,126 ft² | 12.1 gal | 13 gal |
| 30 × 40 ft, 2 stories | 300 ft² | 2,460 ft² | 14.1 gal | 15 gal |
| 40 × 50 ft, 2 stories | 400 ft² | 3,140 ft² | 17.9 gal | 18 gal |
Siding type changes the amount
The same 30 × 40 ft one-story house (1,350 ft² to paint) takes more paint on rough surfaces, because they soak it up:
| Siding | Coverage per gallon | Paint for two coats | Buy |
|---|---|---|---|
| Smooth vinyl, aluminum or smooth wood | 400 ft² | 6.8 gal | 7 gal |
| Wood or fiber-cement | 350 ft² | 7.7 gal | 8 gal |
| Rough wood, T1-11 or textured | 300 ft² | 9.0 gal | 9 gal |
| Stucco, brick or very rough | 250 ft² | 10.8 gal | 11 gal |
What the chart does not include
- Trim, fascia, soffits, doors and shutters: bought separately, usually 2 to 3 gallons of a glossier trim paint.
- Primer: bare wood, stains and patches need it, and a big color change may take a full coat of tinted primer.
- Garage doors, porches and decks: measure them as separate jobs.
- Touch-up paint: keep a quart of the batch for later.
The full shopping list, with caulk, primer and prep tools, is in the exterior painting materials list; the house exterior painting calculator totals it for you. For rooms inside the house see how many square feet a gallon of paint covers.
Before you buy
- Houses built before 1978 may contain lead paint. Test before you sand or scrape, and follow lead-safe practices.
- Paint in the temperature range printed on the can, out of strong sun, with no rain forecast for a day or two.
- Mix all the pails of one color together (boxing) so the color matches around the house.
Estimates only: the label on the paint wins, and your siding may soak up more or less than the defaults.
Frequently asked questions
How many gallons of paint to paint a house exterior?
For two coats, about 5.9 gallons for a small 24 × 30 ft one-story house, 7.7 for a 30 × 40 ft one-story, and 14.1 for a 30 × 40 ft two-story house, at 350 square feet per gallon.
How many square feet does a gallon of exterior paint cover?
About 350 square feet on wood or fiber-cement siding, 400 on smooth surfaces and as little as 250 on stucco, brick or very rough siding. One coat. The label gives the exact figure.
How do I measure a house for paint?
Multiply the distance around the house by the wall height, add the triangular gable ends if there are any, and subtract the windows and doors. The calculator does this from the length, width, stories and gables.
Does the trim need separate paint?
Usually yes. Trim, doors and shutters are painted in a different color and gloss, so buy 2 to 3 gallons of trim paint for an average house, separate from the siding total.
How much less paint does one coat need?
One coat on the 30 × 40 ft one-story house is 3.9 gallons, half of the two-coat figure. Over bare or patched wood prime first, then one finish coat may do.
More guides
Tools & materials for this project
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Estimates only. Quantities depend on your materials, site and supplier. Confirm important numbers before you order, and follow local building codes for anything structural.